Illegal to Adopt Foreign Children in Saudi Arabia

Announced just last week, foreign adoptions will no longer be allowed.

Denalee Chapman
January 27, 2015

The Sputnik News reported last week on the announcement by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Social Affairs that it is now illegal to adopt foreign children if you live in Saudi Arabia.

Latifah Al-Tamimi, the head of the Social Supervision Division in the Eastern Province states, “The ministry does not sponsor Arab children who lost their parents in conflicts, such as in Syria and Iraq. There are global humanitarian organizations that deal with these cases.”

However, the recent adoption of Saudi orphans from neighboring countries will be honored. These children from Saudi Arabia will still be given birth certificates and other documents. In addition, these adoptive families will receive the equivalent of $800 monthly, free medical treatment at private hospitals for their adopted children, and bank accounts for the children. This is the case for all adoptees.